Question

Lead pipes are readily corroded by.
A) Water.
B) Acetic acid.
C)$Con\,{H_2}S{O_4}$
D) $dil\,{H_2}S{O_4}$

Answer 1

Hint: We all know that lead easily dissolves in organic acids in the presence of oxygen. This is due to the formation of lead salts.

Complete step by step answer:We know that alloys of lead-tin are used as materials for organ pipes from the ancient period and in recent times corrosion of these pipes are observed. The major reason for the corrosion of lead pipes is release of acetic acid during the ageing of these pipes. In the presence of oxygen lead in these pipes form lead acetate which cause decomposition of the pipes.
The reaction is as follows,
$Pb + C{H_3}COOH + \dfrac{1}{2}{O_2}\xrightarrow[{}]{}Pb{\left( {C{H_2}COO} \right)_2} + {H_2}O$
$\therefore $Option B is the correct answer.

Additional note:
Other uses of lead are:
Lead is a metal which has been used from ancient times for making paints and pipes as a corrosion resistant and also used for making coins.
It is used in car batteries and as a primary ingredient in lead acid batteries.
It is also for soldering electrical equipment parts.
Lead is used as electrodes in electrolysis processes.
In nuclear reactors and X-ray equipment, lead is used as a protective shield.


Note:
We know that Lead is used for various purposes but lead pipes are not safe for transporting drinking water because water contains dissolved oxygen so this may attack the lead and form poisonous lead acetate.
We also know that in the presence of oxygen acetic acid rapidly attacks the lead and produces soluble lead (II) acetate which harms the use of lead to store wine or fruit juice and lead salts are also toxic and the metals build up over time to cause acute neurological and other damage.